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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0763.PDF
AUGUST 16, 1928 PRIVATE ! FLYING A Section of FLIGHT in the Interests of the Private Owner, Owner-Pilot, and Club Member AERODROMES OF ENGLAND IT seems clear now that aviation in this country can expectthe aerodrome and landing field question to be settled in accordance with the insight and ambition of the muni-cipalities, for they appear to be the only authentic authorities who are acquiring and preparing suitable sites for thepurpose. Until they complete their self-imposed task, makeshift landing fields must serve the country, whichmeans first that they must be located and recorded—a long task that has already begun and will continue. A limited enquiry today into the extent that the townshave already tackled the problem is quite encouraging. It Railways Ro»ds 8, SiTwfe Buildings H. JSMS Proposed site for the Blackpool Municipal Aerodrome and motor racing track, which is 539 acres in extent, and 2,970 yards from the centre of the town. As the former it will be one of the first of its kind in England. is in fact difficult to find many towns which have turnedup their municipal noses at the idea. We do see reports of some councillors publicly denouncing the terrible modernnotion of harnessing the town with an aerodrome, and it is •often simultaneously observed that their objections arepurely personal ones. They object to the noise of aero •engines, for instance. One could readily have sympathywith that reason but doubt whether it is quite valid in these •days of eternal outrageous noises. Hundreds of streets are.filled with racket today, against which aircraft engines can never hope to make themselves heard. Purely incidentally, it has been noticed by the writerhow little do people who live close to aerodromes complain •of undue disturbance. At first very low descents over the•chimney pots stir a nomadic desire, but when it is realised that pilots do not risk their luck with chimney pots as ahabit the life becomes quite bearable, if not interesting. Terrestrial traffic is a far greater nuisance, both for noise andvibration. Councillors who do object for purely personal reasons provoke the quiet reflection that in these democraticdays we change our councillors. Most towns have investigated the aerodrome questionSeriously, for which much credit must go to the pioneering industry of Sir Alan Cobham, who sent out literally hundredsof letters on the subject in the British Isles and in many cases he followed up with personal visits and gave his adviceon the choice of suitable sites. This provoked widespread interest, and now many towns have communicated with theAir Ministry for further guidance, which has been readily forthcoming. Belfast, we believe, has the honour of being the firsttown in Great Britain to possess a municipal aerodrome. Blackpool looks as though it will be well in front in•this country, with Skegness a keen runner-up. With this article will be seen maps of the proposed sites for boththose seaside towns. The area which Blackpool proposes to purchase contains 539 acres and is 2,970 yards from thecentre of the town (or 1 -68 miles), and due east of the North and Central Piers. Part of it will be a motor racing track,not for trade testing but for sporting events calculated to draw public interest to motor racing carried out under openroad conditions. Rumours have associated seaplane land- ing facilities in the scheme, but the towns report does notrefer to that. It will be noticed on our reproduced map that a mere is marked in the proposed area. Blackpool hasalready an excellent temporary landing field in Squire's Gate, south of the town, where the recent big air meetingtook place. Skegness, on the Lincolnshire coast line, has not the sizeor fame as a seaside resort that Blackpool has, but it is very much alive to its future and the part that aircraft can playin it. Mr. R. J. Jenkins, the town's Engineer and Surveyor, says that his Council has long realised that aviation willrevolutionise seaside resorts, and in view of the growing light aeroplane movement in Nottingham and the intimacybetween that town and Skegness, they want to give landing facilities to Nottingham air travellers. They are looking forward to the time when the resortcould be a dormitory town to Nottingham, and it was for these reasons that in their town planning scheme provisionhas been made for reservation of a landing ground. Lord Scarborough, who is the owner of the land, has been con-sulted and is generally favourable to the idea, whilst the Air Ministry, too, has reported favourably on the project.The Council is now negotiating with Lord Scarborough more intimately with a view to the aerodrome being put inuse at a comparatively early date. It is 1 mile 264 yards west of the pier, 640 yards long on W. side, 760 yards onS. side, 294 yards on E. side, and 580 yards on N. side. Maidstone Town Council has scheduled Mote Park asan open space in the town planning scheme with a view- to its use as an aerodrome. Proposed site for the Skegness Municipal Aerodrome,which is likely to be in use shortly, if present negotia- tions with Lord Scarborough, the owner of the land,are satisfactory. Lord Scarborough is favourable towards the scheme. The approximate distance fromthe Pier is 1 mile 264 yards. Hull has a ground in preparation as part of the new Hull University grounds. Leeds has gone ahead rapidly now. Sir Alan Cobham was engaged to report on several sites and an Air Ministry report is now awaited. 707
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